Indonesia calls for extension of 4-month old Bosnia truce
Indonesia calls for extension of 4-month old Bosnia truce
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday called on all sides embroiled in the civil war in the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina to extend a four-month old truce which has since expired.
"Indonesia, as chairman of NAM (the Non-Aligned Movement), wishes to continue to appeal to all sides concerned to extend the cease-fire for a period, based on mutually agreed conditions," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.
Moerdiono added that an extension of the truce would contribute considerably to the creation of an atmosphere conducive to the achievement of a final and just solution to the conflict.
Despite a last ditch effort by United Nations special envoy Yasushi Akashi on Sunday, both Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic refused to move from their position of opposition to an extension of the cease-fire, which each had already stated previously.
The fragile truce was established on Dec. 31, 1994. Many observers now fear that, without the truce, a full scale war will erupt in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"The President noted the concern within the international community about the possibility of an increase in hostilities between the parties involved," Moerdiono said, referring to Indonesia's President Soeharto.
"The President also noted the disappointment among the parties involved about the cease-fire's failure to produce a political solution and the peace they so desired, and that, thus, they rejected an extension of the cease-fire," he said.
Moerdiono reasserted Indonesia's readiness to help find a solution to the crisis, especially given the support expressed by several NAM members during last week's Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau in Bandung, West Java, for Jakarta's efforts.
During a brief stop in the former Yugoslav republic in March, President Soeharto put forward a plan for a comprehensive solution to the crisis, with Indonesia playing the role of facilitator.
"Indonesia, as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, feels further driven by the support given by the member countries," Moerdiono said.
"The President, after being informed about this by the Foreign Minister, expressed his appreciation and repeated Indonesia's preparedness to help," he said .(mds)